Wire fence strand spreader

Abstract

An elongated panel member body is provided including opposite end hooks opening toward remote ends of the body and outwardly of a first longitudinal side edge of the body. A longitudinal midportion of the body includes a transverse first finger receiving bore formed therethrough and the opposite end portions of the other longitudinal edge of the body include thumb engageable abutment surfaces facing outwardly of the body and engageable by the thumb of the user. One end of the body extends endwise outwardly beyond the corresponding hook and has one end of an elongated flexible tension member anchored relative thereto, the other end of the tension member being equipped with a hook member. One of the hooks may be engaged with a first strand of a multistrand fence, the first finger of one hand of the user may be engaged in the transverse bore formed in the body and the other hand of the user may be applied to a second adjacent strand of the fence for deflecting that strand toward the first strand while the first finger of the one hand of the user displaces the body toward the second strand and engages the second strand with the second body hook. If the spacing between adjacent fence strands is too great, the first strand of the fence may be engaged by the free end of the tension member rather than the first mentioned hook.

What is claimed as new is as follows: 
     
       1. A wire fence strand spreader including an elongated body defining opposite end hooks opening longitudinally of said body toward each other in directions inclined slightly outwardly of one side of said body, a longitudinal mid-portion of said body spaced between said hooks including an opening formed transversely therethrough and in which a user's first finger may be received to provide an anti-slip anchoring of said finger to said body, the side of said body opposite said one side including oppositely inclined opposite end abutment surfaces extending longitudinally therealong each, selectively, engageable by the thumb of a hand having the first finger thereof engaged through said opening, said abutment surfaces defining an included angle opening toward said opening, said hooks being spaced apart longitudinally of said body on remote sides of said opening. 
     
     
       2. The spreader of claim 1 wherein said body comprises a panel member and said first and second longitudinal sides of said body comprise opposite longitudinal edges thereof. 
     
     
       3. The spreader of claim 2 wherein said opening extends in a direction through said body disposed generally normal to the medial plane of said panel member. 
     
     
       4. A wire fence strand spreader including an elongated body defining opposite end hooks opening toward remote ends of said body and outwardly of a first longitudinal side of said body, a longitudinal mid-portion of said body including anchor structure engageable by a user's finger to provide an anti-slip anchoring of said finger to said body, the opposite end portions of a second side of said body opposite said first side including thumb engageable abutment surfaces facing outwardly thereof and engageable by the thumb of the user, one end of said body extending endwise outwardly beyond the corresponding hook and having one end of an elongated flexible tension member anchored relative thereto and the other end of said tension member being equipped with a hook member. 
     
     
       5. The spreader of claim 4 wherein said anchor structure includes an opening formed transversely through said body in which the user's first finger may be received. 
     
     
       6. The spreader of claim 5 wherein said body comprises a panel member and said first and second longitudinal sides of said body comprise opposite longitudinal edges thereof. 
     
     
       7. The spreader of claim 6 wherein said opening extends in a direction through said body disposed generally normally to th medial plane of said panel member.